Deacon's Corner: Do we serve as witnesses of our Faith and proclaim the Good News to others?
November 20, 2022, 12:00 PM
In the Gospel (Mark 7:32-35) the people bring a deaf man to Jesus. Because of his deafness, the man has a speech impediment. Jesus touches the man’s ears and mouth and says, "Ephphatha," that is, “be opened.” When He does, his speech impediment is gone, and he is able to speak plainly. This deaf man stands for all of us who do not hear the word of God. If we don’t hear the Word of God clearly, then we are unable, or unwilling, to plainly speak the Word of God to others.
 
This Gospel passage is the foundation of the Ephphetha Prayer (Prayer Over Ears and Mouth), in the Rite of Baptism. The Presider touches the ears and mouth and says, “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His Word, and your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father. Amen.”
 
As the baptized, we are all called to hear the Word of God and proclaim it to others. However, a lot of us may have “selective hearing.” We tune out things we don’t want to hear. Sometimes, we only hear God telling us the things we want to hear. Other things, such as repent or change our ways, go in one ear and out the other. As we enter a new liturgical year with Advent next week, let us pray that God will restore our spiritual hearing so we can hear His voice more clearly and proclaim the Good News to all we meet. Each time we do, we witness our Faith to our neighbor and become more Christ-like. Now you know!